Disability discrimination laws "should protect
mental health"
Summary
This Report
‘Improving
the Mental Health of the Population: Can the European Union help?’ (HLP 73-
I) from the House of Lords European Union Committee brings together
evidence on the impact of mental health problems from a wide range of
individuals and organisations.
The Report relates to the European
Commission Green Paper of October 2005 ‘Improving the mental health of the
population: towards a strategy on mental health for the European Union’ (European
Commission Green Paper - available to download from the European Commission
website).
Various health studies have shown an increase in mental health
problems across Europe, with 1 in 4 adults experiencing some kind of mental
health problem in any given year. In addition, high rates of emotional and
behavioural disorders among children and adolescents, as well as mental health
problems among older people, have been observed.
The impact on
individuals and families is enormous, and the cost to the UK economy is
estimated at over £77bn every year.
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How does
it affect me?
If you work in mental health, this affects you.
The
Lords European Union Committee believes that a significant improvement in the
position of those with mental health problems in the UK could be achieved by
recognising that mental health problems come within the scope of
anti-discrimination legislation relating to disability.
Baroness Thomas
of Walliswood, Chair of the House of Lords EU Sub-Committee on Social Policy
and Consumer Affairs, said: “People suffering from conditions as diverse
as depression or anxiety right through to schizophrenia must be able to seek
help without fear of discrimination or social stigma. It is vital that in the
UK mental health problems are recognised as coming within the scope of
anti-discrimination legislation, so that people do not lose their jobs or
become excluded from services when seeking help for their condition. This is
crucial for preventing social exclusion.”
The Committee argue that the European Union should encourage member
states that do not already have anti-discrimination legislation to introduce
it, and that the EU has a role to play in promoting better mental health and
delivering better services, and facilitating the exchange of information and
best practice.
The Report covers such topics as:
- Defining
mental well-being
- The social and economic impact
- Human rights
issues
- Social exclusion, stigma and discrimination
- Mental
health issues for population sub-groups.
See more about the
European
Union Committee Social and Consumer Affairs (Sub-Committee G)